John Mark Hamilton

John's Story

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TAHLEQUAH – Funeral services for John Mark Hamilton will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m., at the Crescent Valley Baptist Church with Rev. Chad Pendergraft officiating. Interment will follow at Holland Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reedculver.com. Pallbearers for Johnny include Steve Cooper, Larry Cooper, Don Gullett, Donnie Kymes, Jeff Denton, Dale Rhinehart and Bob Holcomb. Honorary pallbearers include Mack McDaniel and J.D. Nottingham. John Mark Hamilton, or “Johnny” to his many family and friends, was born on Jan. 7, 1934, in Iowa Park, Texas, the son of L.A. and Edythe (Kimberlin) Hamilton. At the age of 12, Johnny, along with his parents, moved to Fort Gibson where he attended Fort Gibson School and graduated in 1952. In 1955, Johnny married his best friend and companion, Ruby Faye Collins in Tahlequah. They made their home in the Fort Gibson area, raising a family of one daughter, Terri, and one son, Buddy. Johnny worked as a construction contractor, but was a rancher at heart, every day he woke to blue skies, the lulling sounds of cattle in the fields, hay to bail, and grandchildren to tease and spoil. Johnny was a blessed man. He was a member of the Cherokee County Cattleman’s Association and a Woodall Volunteer Fire Fighter. Time off from work was spent in quail hunting with J.D. Nottingham or sitting on the nearest fishing bank, wrangling the big one. He liked to sit in his favorite chair and watch any western movie that featured John Wayne. He enjoyed being a member of the “4 Mile-Road” Breakfast Club, where there was plenty of coffee and tall tales to go around, followed by his favorite meal of sausage and eggs, biscuits and gravy, and just “one more cup of coffee.” He was the biggest fan of his children and grandchildren, and any activity they chose to participate in, Johnny was there! He loved to hassle and joke with them, every chance he got. He loved to travel to Montana, spending time with his brother-in-law and their family, seeing the great outdoors, and big sky country. Johnny was a Christian and a Baptist by faith. He was a member of Crescent Valley Baptist Church, serving wherever asked, from finance officer to any youth event, from picnics to skiing adventures. Johnny’s health began to fail him, and the Lord called this good and faithful servant home from his labors on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. Johnny was 81 years old. Johnny is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Ruby of the home; one daughter, Terri Fite and husband Ed of Tahlequah; and one son, John Mark “Buddy” Hamilton of Sallisaw; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Hamilton of Muskogee, John Mark “J.J.” Hamilton of Fort Gibson, Kirsten and Kolbye Hamilton of Sallisaw; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of many friends and loved ones. We will love and miss you forever. Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 918-456-2551.